Phnom penh: H.E. Heng Ratana, Director-General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), on Monday briefed military attach©s and the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) regarding explosive remnants of war allegedly left by the Thai military on Cambodian territory during two rounds of armed conflict in 2025. The briefing took place at CMAC headquarters on August 31, in the presence of Lieutenant General Phat Vibolsopheak, Deputy Director-General of the General Department of Politics and Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of National Defence, alongside relevant CMAC officials.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the presentation aimed to provide detailed information on the impacts and challenges arising from the explosive remnants. It also highlighted Cambodia's ongoing efforts to address these issues to ensure the safety of its citizens and to support national development. The gathering of military attach©s and ASEAN observers was intended to enhance understanding of the situation on the ground and foster regional cooperation in dealing with the problem.
H.E. Heng Ratana emphasized that CMAC has been intensifying efforts to clear explosive remnants of war in residential areas affected by the conflict. This initiative aligns with the priority set by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, who has called for necessary measures to ensure that displaced residents can safely return to their homes.
According to CMAC, the explosive remnants include cluster munition remnants, aerial bombs, chemical substances and weapons, as well as drone-related ordnance. The two rounds of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in 2025 impacted approximately 340 villages, around 441,000 hectares of land, and affected some 91,000 families, as per the information presented by CMAC.